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Parliament summons Gender Minister over 'Kayayei'

Parliament summons Gender Minister over 'Kayayei'

Source: Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Adwoa Gyasiwaa

Date: 05-02-2014 Time: 08:02:51:pm

Nana Oye Lithur

The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho has summoned the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, to brief Parliament on steps taken by the ministry to effectively deal with the issue of migration of females from the Northern region to Accra and Kumasi to work as head potters popularly known as 'Kayayei'.

The directive comes on a back of concerns raised by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Oforikrom, Elizabeth Agyemang about the increasing spate of migration by young girls from the North.

Delivering a statement on the floor of the House on Wednesday February 5, 2014, the Oforikrom MP described as disturbing, how young girls below the age of 10 carry heavy loads just to make ends meet.

“After going through such ordeal during the day, they meet their worst nightmares during the night. Whiles some of them can afford to pay a fee of about GH¢2 per week to sleep in a small kiosk, those, who cannot afford have no choice than to sleep in the open”, she bemoaned.

The Gender Advocate said these vulnerable girls are not only exposed to mosquitoes but also harassed by “unscrupulous” men, who take advantage of them.